Nicol Epple ENG 764 Writing Response_Wk4, Day 2 Religious Poetry When I think of religious poetry I think of sentiments of Christianity. By definition, any religion in its various practices and forms qualifies as religious poetry, but to me when one says “religious” poetry a connotation of Christianity from the nineteenth-century backwards come to mind. This is due to the significant historical influence of Catholicism and forms of Christianity had upon culture. Of course, many others practiced religions or not at all. Such is the case with Constance Naden, but I believe they are the exception not the rule. Just for thought-today’s contemporary term, I believe, would be spiritual poetry which includes faiths of all kinds, not specifically Christianity. In this response I write about Jane Austen’s prayers included in the Appendix. As her brother published them posthumously, it is difficult to say whether Austen meant them to be published or viewed at all--that would make for interesting study. There are many correlations in Austen’s prayers that remind me of Fanny. And as such, I may use this information in, my final paper. Within the three prayers Austen exhibits a consciousness of her spiritual mind and behavior for that day (the prayers being addressed in the evening or at bedtime). Austen takes stock of the happenings of her days and asks for mercy and help to do better the morrow. She prays “May we now, and on each return of night, consider how the past day has been spent by us, what have been our prevailing thoughts, words, and action during it, and how far we can acquit ourselves of evil” (478). Fanny exhibits this same self-consciousness (a topic I am developing in my paper). Along with being conscious of sin, Austen prays again and again to be conscious of gratitude for all that the almighty father has bestowed upon her: “Give us a thankful sense of the blessings in which we live, of the many comforts of our lot; that we may not deserve to love them by discontent or indifference” (478). Fanny comes to mind as the benefactor of Lord Bertrum goodness, though the comparison (or more fittingly-contrast of Lord Bertrum to “almighty father” is the subject of another paper). Throughout Mansfield Park Fanny continuously displays a sense of thankfulness for the “comforts of [her] lot” and none moreso than when she returns to Portsmouth (478). Austen contrasts the sin of self-deception “by pride or vanity” to an attitude of “reverence and devotion” (478). Here, I think of the Crawfords and their vain self-centered vanity. In using the adjectives that I just stated it is easy to juxtapose the Crawfords with Fanny. The Appendix also includes a short excerpt from Hannah More’s Strictures on the Modern System of Female Education (1798), a publication that Austen would most likely have read. The excerpt comes from chapter 18, “A Worldly Spirit” and the editor notes that the younger Bertrum’s were attracted by the Crawfords “Intelligence and the ‘worldly spirit’” (I still have to find the citation. Interestingly, this reference is from the same scripture as that pertaining to the care of orphans and widows. It reads “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1.27). Austen notes that the Crawfords are worldly minded. I argue that she meant to position them in a space which accentuates Fanny’s non-worldliness. The example of the play with the Crawford’s great interest and Fanny’s refusal is a case of point. Another thought-Austen mentions to pray for the “comfort & protection of the widow and orphan” (479). The above mentioned scripture from the Book of James speaks specifically of caring for the “widows and orphans” and to do so is “true religion” (1.27). That Austen was mindful (again conscious) of what the bible condones as true religion affirms her writing acuity of spiritual matters. I am now thinking of the hypocrisy that she writes into the character of Mr. Collins from P&P. Austen’s experience as a reverend’s daughter and her own religious conscience prompt weavings of religious themes throughout her novels.
ENG 764
Writing Response_Wk4, Day 2
Religious Poetry
When I think of religious poetry I think of sentiments of Christianity. By definition, any religion in its various practices and forms qualifies as religious poetry, but to me when one says “religious” poetry a connotation of Christianity from the nineteenth-century backwards come to mind. This is due to the significant historical influence of Catholicism and forms of Christianity had upon culture. Of course, many others practiced religions or not at all. Such is the case with Constance Naden, but I believe they are the exception not the rule.
Just for thought-today’s contemporary term, I believe, would be spiritual poetry which includes faiths of all kinds, not specifically Christianity.
In this response I write about Jane Austen’s prayers included in the Appendix. As her brother published them posthumously, it is difficult to say whether Austen meant them to be published or viewed at all--that would make for interesting study. There are many correlations in Austen’s prayers that remind me of Fanny. And as such, I may use this information in, my final paper. Within the three prayers Austen exhibits a consciousness of her spiritual mind and behavior for that day (the prayers being addressed in the evening or at bedtime). Austen takes stock of the happenings of her days and asks for mercy and help to do better the morrow. She prays “May we now, and on each return of night, consider how the past day has been spent by us, what have been our prevailing thoughts, words, and action during it, and how far we can acquit ourselves of evil” (478). Fanny exhibits this same self-consciousness (a topic I am developing in my paper).
Along with being conscious of sin, Austen prays again and again to be conscious of gratitude for all that the almighty father has bestowed upon her: “Give us a thankful sense of the blessings in which we live, of the many comforts of our lot; that we may not deserve to love them by discontent or indifference” (478). Fanny comes to mind as the benefactor of Lord Bertrum goodness, though the comparison (or more fittingly-contrast of Lord Bertrum to “almighty father” is the subject of another paper). Throughout Mansfield Park Fanny continuously displays a sense of thankfulness for the “comforts of [her] lot” and none moreso than when she returns to Portsmouth (478).
Austen contrasts the sin of self-deception “by pride or vanity” to an attitude of “reverence and devotion” (478). Here, I think of the Crawfords and their vain self-centered vanity. In using the adjectives that I just stated it is easy to juxtapose the Crawfords with Fanny. The Appendix also includes a short excerpt from Hannah More’s Strictures on the Modern System of Female Education (1798), a publication that Austen would most likely have read. The excerpt comes from chapter 18, “A Worldly Spirit” and the editor notes that the younger Bertrum’s were attracted by the Crawfords “Intelligence and the ‘worldly spirit’” (I still have to find the citation. Interestingly, this reference is from the same scripture as that pertaining to the care of orphans and widows. It reads “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1.27). Austen notes that the Crawfords are worldly minded. I argue that she meant to position them in a space which accentuates Fanny’s non-worldliness. The example of the play with the Crawford’s great interest and Fanny’s refusal is a case of point.
Another thought-Austen mentions to pray for the “comfort & protection of the widow and orphan” (479). The above mentioned scripture from the Book of James speaks specifically of caring for the “widows and orphans” and to do so is “true religion” (1.27). That Austen was mindful (again conscious) of what the bible condones as true religion affirms her writing acuity of spiritual matters. I am now thinking of the hypocrisy that she writes into the character of Mr. Collins from P&P.
Austen’s experience as a reverend’s daughter and her own religious conscience prompt weavings of religious themes throughout her novels.